Portland Fire close gap on Mystics with decisive WNBA victory

The Portland Fire have tightened their grip on the final WNBA playoff position, securing a 75-56 victory over the Washington Mystics at CareFirst Arena on Thursday. The win moves the Fire within two games of the Mystics for the No. 8 seed, keeping their hopes alive for the league’s final postseason spot in their first season back as an expansion team.

Portland established control early, building a 28-13 lead in the first quarter. Carla Leite was instrumental in the opening period, scoring nine points in the first 10 minutes before finishing with 14 points and five assists. Serah Williams contributed 12 points and five rebounds, starting in place of Megan Gustafson, who missed the match for personal reasons.

The Fire’s defensive performance marked a significant shift from their season-long struggles. Washington shot just 29 per cent from the field and 10 per cent from three-point range, committing 19 turnovers that Portland converted via 10 steals. The Mystics never managed to reduce the deficit to less than 13 points in the fourth quarter, despite Shakira Austin recording 19 points, nine rebounds, four assists, and two blocks.

Individual performances varied sharply for Washington. Sonia Citron reached a career milestone of 1,000 points with eight points in the loss, while Kiki Iriafen struggled significantly, scoring a career-low two points on 1-for-8 shooting. Austin was the only other Mystics player to reach double figures.

The victory leaves Portland (11-14) in contention, while Washington (12-11) holds the No. 7 seed. The New York Liberty, who were tied with Washington, had their scheduled game against the Dallas Wings postponed due to a mechanical issue with their team plane. Portland faces a challenging test on Saturday against the league-best Minnesota Lynx (19-6), while Washington travels to San Francisco to face the Golden State Valkyries.